The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1887-04-09
A GOSSIP'S DEED.

Miss Perkins cleared her throat and
looked knowing.
Il didn't s'pose you'd care so much,
'Nervie," she said, after a moment OF
silence, during which the young girl had
turned her face away.
Miss Perkins was one OF the born ag-
gravators of humanity in general and in
particular. Minerva Woodford felt hOr
ribly tempted 10 tell her so. But Nj
nerva had wonderful scf-control for
such smiling azure eyes and thick ma sed.
ungovernable auburn hair. 1t was no
light imposition, this that sine had borne
throughout that glorious midsummer af
ternoon; the company of Miss Perkins
ito tea the threads of gossip Miss Per-
kins unraveled inch for inch with the
yarn of the great gray balls from which
she was always knitting ugly stockings
for Heaven knew whom and knit up
slowly with her own peculiar skill Of mar
ration into a substance quite as ugly and
durable as the product of her hands.
1t was one of Miss Perkins seif-en-
Joined duties to communicate disagree
able t;dings. >he felt delightful sense
of peace and contentment now that she
had concluded her task OF enlightcn;ng
her Young and mOtheress hostess
"Nervie was a good girl and hadn't
ought to be deceived leastest,' she said
to herself. more specially by such a
worthless critter as that Jason Hawkes." y
IL didn't s'pose you'd care so much, y
she repeated. with an air of sympathy
Minerva Y as reaching thr ugh the win
dow to break off some of the pink rose:
that hung there red-ripe and luscious
She did not obey her impulse TO turn anC
speak sharply. She did not say out he
thought '"Nervie!' How he hated t
be called "'Nervie" No one with an!
sense called her anythinc but Minnie
No one but Miss Elvira Perkins. Sh
wished Miss Perkins would never com
to see her.
She thought all this, but what she salt
was milder, as she faced about carelessl
and stood arranging the roses
Il am sure / hardly understand you
Miss eikins. Why should you suppOs
l cared what was said about .Iaso
Hawkesl Surely he has right to MARI
whom he pleases
She might have been little paler tina
usual, but her voice was quite steady.
Miss Perkins smiled discreetly.
"There amt much chance for tn
young girls" she observed, ''whe
there's designin' widow come to tow
MIS- Darrell's Just got Jason Hawk,
wound completely round her finge
'Tisnt that he's so much account, thong
if he'd married you, you could've had
good influence. He's altogether tt
fond O. rae horses and such-like ev
doings But for her to come and s
herself up so mightily-why, she ain
once returned your call now, I'll
bound"
Minerals lovely face flushed painful
at the reminder She stepped from 81
ting room to kitchen and put some wat
in a vase for the roses. Her hea
throbbed with a great ache, but nev
should her caller know it.
Its almost time for father to come
she sa d, qui tly. I'm going to set t
table now, Miss Perkins. Will you
by the doorl I'll bring your chair"
''Oh, law! | can manage for myself
said the elderly maiden, rising in Sol
haste to push the wooden rocker befC
her over the sill and down the length
the shining kitchen. 1t was wing
the house facing the road, and the d.
was open